Samsung’s Galaxy S series represents the high-end Android smartphones that the Korean giant can manufacture at scale every year, and this technology comes at a price. For example, the cheapest Galaxy S26 model costs $899.99, while the cheapest Galaxy S26 Ultra starts at $1,299.99. These costs may be prohibitive for some buyers. But rather than choosing a significantly more affordable Galaxy A handset over a premium Galaxy S model, Samsung fans have an alternative: the more affordable and still premium Galaxy FE model, which typically launches later in the year. Samsung introduced the modern concept Galaxy S Fan Edition (FE) in 2020, a near-flagship device that was more affordable than the standard Galaxy S20 so it could target buyers looking for flagship phone experiences at a lower price. Samsung was able to offer this type of device because it made some compromises which allowed it to reduce manufacturing costs.
Samsung explained in September 2020 that it used “select features from the Galaxy S20 series, such as ultra-smooth scrolling screen, AI-powered camera, advanced chipset, ultra-fast connectivity, all-day battery, expandable storage, with a streamlined premium design, to create the all-new Galaxy S20 FE.” The same principles likely remain in place for Samsung’s current Galaxy FE strategy, although recent models now also emphasize Galaxy AI support.
However, buyers need to understand the compromises Samsung is making to keep Galaxy FE prices lower. There may be cases where some buyers will be better served by a Galaxy S model. The Galaxy S26 FE is not available in stores at the time of this writing, nor is the Galaxy S25 FE which followed the Galaxy S25 series launched in early September 2025. Therefore, below we will compare the Galaxy S25 FE to the Galaxy S25 and Galaxy S25 Plus.
The Galaxy S25 FE compromises
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The Galaxy S25 FE features a 6.7-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2340 x 1080 (385 PPI), a dynamic refresh rate of 60-120 Hz, and a peak brightness of 1900 nits. The screen is protected by Corning Gorilla Glass Victus+. The standard Galaxy S25 has a 6.2-inch display, while the Galaxy S25 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. Both panels offer similar display specifications, including dynamic refresh rates of 1-120 Hz, up to 2,600 nits of peak brightness, and Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2 cover glass. The smaller Galaxy S25 has a screen with an identical resolution (2,340 x 1,080) but a higher pixel density (416 PPI), while the larger Galaxy S25 Plus offers a resolution of 3 120 x 1440 and 513 PPI.
The screen isn’t even the biggest compromise for the Galaxy S25 FE: the processor is. The Galaxy S25 FE features the 4nm Exynos 2400 chip, paired with 8GB of RAM. The Exynos 2400 scores 2,165 (single-core) and 6,693 (multi-core) in Geekbench 6. The Galaxy S25 phones are powered by Qualcomm’s 3nm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and come with 12GB of RAM. The Snapdragon 8 Elite processor performs significantly better in the Geekbench tests: 2,725 and 9,190 points.
The Galaxy S25 FE’s camera system includes three lenses on the back: a 50-megapixel wide lens, a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and an 8-megapixel telephoto lens. The Galaxy S25 and S25 Plus phones have a better zoom camera (10 megapixels). The wide and ultra-wide cameras are similar to the S25 FE, although the ultra-wide camera on the S25 models has a larger sensor. All three phones feature 12-megapixel selfie cameras. Finally, the battery specs are similar for the similarly sized Galaxy S25 FE and Galaxy S25 Plus, as both devices feature 4,900mAh batteries with support for 45W fast charging.
When to Buy the Galaxy FE and When to Skip It
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The hardware comparison above shows that the Galaxy S25 models offer better screen quality, faster performance, and slightly better camera systems than the cheaper Galaxy S25 FE. Buyers should know that all Galaxy S25 models will offer seven years of Android updates and seven years of security updates. The Galaxy S25 FE launched with Android 16 onboard, while the more expensive models used Android 15 out of the box. However, premium models may receive new software updates before the FE variants.
Consumers interested in Galaxy FE phones should make sure they’re getting a good deal. The 128GB Galaxy S25 FE costs $649.99, while the standard 128GB Galaxy S25 costs $799.99. The 256GB Galaxy S25 Plus costs $999.99. The Galaxy S25 FE may offer good savings, but launch time matters. The Galaxy S25 FE hit stores around six months after the Galaxy S25 series. High-end Galaxy S25 models were available at lower prices in fall 2025. For example, Best Buy sold unlocked Galaxy S25s for $679, $29 more than the FE variant, while a Galaxy S25 purchased with AT&T or Verizon activation was listed at $579.
The same considerations should be applied when choosing between the Galaxy S26 FE and the base Galaxy S26 models. Samsung increased prices in 2026. The 256GB Galaxy S26 cost $899.99, $40 more than its predecessor. The 256GB Galaxy S26 Plus costs $1,099.99, up $100 from its predecessor. In April 2026, Samsung increased the price of the 256GB Galaxy S25 FE by $40 to $749.99. In other words, the most expensive Galaxy S26 models could see significant discounts around the time the Galaxy S26 FE launches.
